Lucas and Stewart in Liverpool FC contention as Klopp calls for Anfield crowd to help in 'big fight' with Stoke

Lucas Leiva of Liverpool celebrates the win at the end of the Capital One Cup Semi Final: Second Leg between Liverpool and Stoke City at Anfield on January 26, 2016 - he could make his return to action against the same opposition on Sunday (Photo by Andrew Powell/Liverpool FC via Getty Images)

Jurgen Klopp urged “every voice” in the Anfield crowd to deliver the backing to his team which can see help them overcome a “big fight” against Stoke.

The Liverpool boss revealed he is likely to make changes to his team for the visit of Mark Hughes’s men as he looked to get the three points which will lift the Reds above them in the table.

With efforts in Dortmund on Thursday night fresh in the players’ legs, Klopp was waiting for training at 5pm on Saturday to see which players had come through in the best shape.

Klopp said: ““We have no time for rest, that’s the situation, but of course we have to think about some changes, that’s how it is. We have training at 5pm, another four hours to recover, then we have to see who looks good. Then we have to make decisions. We can’t do a real session today, it’s more about talking and giving information.

“If nothing happened last night we have a few opportunities to change. It’s not about resting one or the other player, it’s about having the best line-up for Stoke. I think everyone saw the season of Stoke, it’s a really good one. they are strong, they are two points ahead (of Liverpool) so with three points we can get them, that would be pretty important for us.

Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp (right) with Stoke City manager Mark Hughes during the Capital One Cup, semi final, first leg match at The Britannia Stadium, Stoke. PRESS ASSOCIATION Photo. Picture date: Tuesday January 5, 2015. See PA story SOCCER Stoke. Photo credit should read: Martin Rickett/PA Wire. RESTRICTIONS: EDITORIAL USE ONLY No use with unauthorised audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or "live" services. Online in-match use limited to 75 images, no video emulation. No use in betting, games or single club/league/player publications.

“But for sure in a situation like this you need the crowd, 100%. Against Tottenham, against Dortmund, we showed we are really ready, that we really want it, that we try everything.

“But I don’t know how many more games Stoke had less than us, over the season it’s 15 games or something. You have to ignore it but usually you cannot ignore it, you have to know about it.

"So it will be for us a big fight for sure and for this fight we need each voice at Anfield. Hopefully we can create a big atmosphere because it will be really, really necessary.”

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The key problem for the Reds boss will be in midfield with Jordan Henderson injured and Emre Can starting the first of a two-game Premier League suspension.

Asked about his options, Klopp initially joked that Liverpool would leave open the middle of the park and defend the wings instead.

But turning to the problem he then added; “Thank God Lucas is back and could play 45 minutes yesterday in a test game against Burnley, Kevin Stewart could play 45 minutes in this game.

“That was what what we needed, it’s what they needed. So we will have to make a decision but these two players are back and that’s very important for us.

“We have to make a decision about line-up, about systems, about a lot of things but at the end we will have a player in this position.”